CHICAGO, Ill. -- North Park Men's Volleyball outlasted the Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors for their first home win of 2025. Sophomore outside hitter Gerald Malana and fifth-year setter Teddy Gedville powered the Vikings to a five-set win (24-26, 27-25, 25-13, 19-25, 15-12) with a pair of double-doubles.
North Park had waves of big moments on offense, but it was their all-time second-best 14 blocks that played a significant role in the win. Senior middle blocker Sam Robinson led that effort with seven while Gedville and junior middle blocker Jonah Johnsamson added five each. One of the heroes of the match was freshman middle blocker Jan Dragan, whose four blocks established a new high in his young career.
A 24-22 first-set lead was vaporized by the Warriors when a pair of NPU attack errors, a WLC ace, and kill by Brady Pichler gave Wisconsin Lutheran four-straight points for the 26-24 advantage.
However, North Park played its best volleyball in the second and third set, hitting .238 and .409, respectively, to go ahead 2-1 in the match. Senior outside hitter Ty Ingrao led the third set with four kills while Robinson, Johnsamson, and Malana all had two. Ingrao added a pair of aces in the set.
Wisconsin Lutheran responded with its best set of the night, hitting .435 with 13 kills and only three errors to tie the match at two sets apiece. The Warriors' Pichler and Noah Kern had five and four kills, respectively, while Jay Thammavongsa had a pair aces.
The Vikings took an early 5-1 lead in set two thanks to a kill and block by Johnsamson, kill by Malana, and a handful of WLC errors. This lead never wavered en route to NPU's first win on its home court of 2025.
Malana led all players with five kills in the set while fifth-year libero Noah Chanthalangsy and Malana had three digs.
Quick Hits:
- NPU with season high 14 blocks, good for second all-time
- Dragan with a career high four, Robinson leads everyone with seven
- Gedville's 29 assists tie a season high for him
- He posted a double-double with 29 assists and 11 digs
- Malana with a double-double: 15 kills and 10 digs
- Ingrao with three aces
- WLC's Pichler led all players with 21 kills
What's Next?
North Park (3-5) defends home court this coming Saturday, Feb. 8, against the University of Olivet Comets (2-8). First serve in Carlson will be 3:00 PM CT.
